Digital literacy survey 2013

Lack of computer skills is damaging young
people's job chances, warns research from The Prince's
Trust.

One in 10 unemployed young people (10%) cannot send
their CV online, while more than one in six (17%) believe they
would be in work today if they had better computer skills, reveals
a Prince's Trust report out today, the 12th March.

A quarter of unemployed young people "dread" filling in online
job applications and one in 10 admit they avoid using
computers.

The Prince’s Trust research, based on interviews with 1,378 15
to 25 year-olds in Great Britain, reveals how more than one in 10
young people (12%) do not think their computer skills are good
enough to use in the job they want, while almost one in five
unemployed young people (18%) claim to feel this way.

One in ten
unemployed youngsters (10%) are embarrassed by their lack of
computer skills, while more than one in six (17%) admit they do not
apply for jobs which require basic computer skills.

Martina Milburn, The Prince’s Trust Chief Executive said: "A
lack of computer literacy can hold young people back and this is
damaging their job prospects. Without basic computer skills, young
people will not be able to pursue career paths and passions because
they can’t get a foot in the door.

With youth unemployment on the rise again, we
need to arm our young people with the skills they need in today’s
tough jobs market. STEM skills are a crucial part of this.

The Trust's new partnership with the Science Museum will see
outreach staff from the Museum going into Prince’s Trust xl clubs
in schools to work with young people at risk of exclusion and
under-achievement.

Martina Milburn added:

"We work with the hardest-to-reach pupils, who may not have
access to a computer at home and often don't have basic IT skills.
The Trust is using will.i.am's generous donation to engage these
young people in science and technology while they're still at
school.

"We're also giving young people more access to IT to support
them into work and helping more unemployed young people set up
technology-related businesses. The donation from will.i.am is
transforming how we help young people in all these areas."

The research, conducted by Ipsos MORI, shows how more than one
in three jobless (35 per cent) "rarely" or "never" look for jobs
online, while one in 10 feels “out of their depth” using a
computer.

will.i.am said:

Inspiring young people through science and
technology is a powerful tool and I am proud to see my donation to
The Prince’s Trust being put into action to help engage
disadvantaged youth who would not otherwise have access to
technology and science education.

He continued, "These workshops are an amazing way to engage
disadvantaged youngsters who don’t have this sort of access to
technology and science otherwise.

“Today I have met with young people who are being supported by
The Trust to improve their digital skills or seek to make their
living through STEM related subjects. Through this new initiative,
we will connect many more disadvantaged youngsters to the worlds of
computing and science and technology."